We made camp in the river delta, secluded in the mangroves, cut off from the city of Udupi.

It was the evening of Diwali, and the festive spirit was in the air. Also in the air was the charge of thunderstorms, for we were being pursued by dark clouds and a heavy atmosphere for two days.

Dusk fell . . .

. . . and fireworks were underway on the horizon in the city.

Back at our camp, the rain flies emerged from the earth . . .

. . . swarming all around us, doing a fire dance of their own.

The sky rumbled as the great mountains of nimbus rolled in, and the gods made their presence known.

Zeus, Indra, Thor, perhaps every known storm god, celebrated the occasion with a sublime opera of light, color and thunder.

First, an opening bolt of charge to the delta made the sky glow green, as the fires still glittered on the horizon.

Then came the crescendo from the clouds.

Slowly, the great gig in the sky finds its drift of moods and hues, as even the sun comes back to give a bow . . .

. . . before one parting shot, one final flourish.